Backhoe Hook Mounting Assembly

ABSTRACT

A backhoe bucket lifting hook assembly has a hook device loop directly mounted on a link pivot pin of a backhoe assembly, with the hook loop engaging spacers on each side of the hook loop to position the hook device between spaced-apart members on which the pin is rotatably mounted.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Backhoe apparatus has long been known for use in digging of trenches and similar operations, utilizing hydraulically-operated buckets with digging teeth.

[0002] Lifting devices or assemblies have been utilized with backhoe apparatus for lifting and moving loads by providing lifting hook assemblies on link pins of bucket assemblies. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,561,119 and 4,495,717 to Lockwood relate to arrangements wherein lifting hook assemblies are provided on link pins of hydraulically operated bucket assemblies. A pivot pin is rotatably mounted relative to actuator arms and bucket plate members. A combination spacer and lifting device is rotatably mounted on such pivot pin, with a tab member secured by welding to a sleeve 24. and with a pin extending through an opening in the tab with yoke arms of a hook mounted thereon. In such arrangement, loads are borne entirely by the welded connection.

[0003] A weld is inherently not a good load-bearing structure. In the Lockwood arrangement, considerable wear occurs at an inner portion of the loop where loads are applied, which can result in cracking, breakage, and even personal injury.

[0004] Backhoe apparatus has been made progressively stronger and more rugged for the handling of heavier loads. Under heavy loads, an arrangement such as that of Lockwood can result in the separation and ripping apart of components, with resultant damage to equipment and hazard of injury to persons. The sizes of hooks utilizable with the devices of Lockwood enable only utilization of a lifting chain, and other elongated lifting devices, such as nylon slings, ropes, cables, etc., cannot be utilized. The Lockwood arrangement requires that a hook be oriented sideways to a viewer, which is often awkward and inconvenient, as when loading or unloading a hook.

[0005] The present invention provides a lifting hook arrangement and structure which is simple, rugged and stronger than prior art assemblies, and which is capable of bearing heavier loads than most prior devices. The lifting hook mechanism is simple, rugged, and of unitary, forged, heat-treated structure.

[0006] The apparatus of the invention may be utilized with relatively large load-carrying lines, such as heavy rope, heavy chain, nylon slings, etc. The hook may be turned 90° for convenience in loading and unloading.

[0007] An important feature of the lifting hook assembly of the invention is that loads thereon are borne entirely by the supporting link pin on which the lifting hook is mounted. A loop portion of the hook device is directly rotatably on the link pin, and the entire load is supported by the link pin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art lifting hook assembly with a bucket assembly of a backhoe machine;

[0009]FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the prior art hook assembly of FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the prior art hook assembly of FIG. 2;

[0011]FIG. 4 is a side view of a prior art hook assembly with a hook welded directly to a mounting sleeve;

[0012]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a lifting hook assembly according to the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bucket assembly with the lifting hook assembly of the invention thereon; and

[0014]FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown as comprising a hook 40 having an upper loop portion 42 and an enlarged hook portion 44, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0016] As earlier described, a backhoe bucket assembly 46 includes supporting front arms 48 spaced-apart on a first pivot pin 49, and a backhoe bucket 50 pivotally connected at mounting arms 48; a pair of hydraulic actuator link bars 52, 54 extend from an hydraulic actuator (not shown) to a second pivot link 58 mounted between two mounting plates 60, 62.

[0017] The sectional view of FIG. 7 shows mounting plates 60, 62 and the hydraulic link bars 52, 54, and loop portion 42 of hook 40 mounted in direct contact with link pin 68 for relative rotation.

[0018] Tubular sleeve spacers 58 are disposed on pivot link 58 on opposite sides of the loop portion 42 of the hook. The spacers may preferrably be spot-welded or “tacked” to loop portion 42. Loop portion 42 is in direct engagement with link pin 68, whereby all load applied at the hoop portion 44 is directly applied to and borne by link member 58. The spacers 58 oppose and resist relative distortion between link bars 52, 54 under heavy loads applied by the hook.

[0019] The hook loop portion is somewhat smaller in diameter than the spacers 58, which are preferrably freely rotatable relative to the link member 68.

[0020] The hook 40 is adapted to bear heavy loads, as by heat-treating and forging. There is no reliance upon any weld or other interconnection between load-bearing members, as is the case with certain prior art devices.

[0021] A flexibly elongated carrying member 64 is suspended from hook portion 44. The hook portion is relatively larger than many prior art hooks, and thus can accommodate elongated flexible members other than chains, such as nylon slings, etc., for supporting, raising, and maneuvering loads. The hook of the invention, utilizes elongated flexible members other than chains, such as nylon slings, etc., and thus avoids or prevents scratching and scraping of objects being supported and maneuvered, such as containers of volatile materials which require prevention of sparks, etc., and coated components, such as plastic-coated oil pipe lines which require that coatings be maintained integral.

[0022] A safety hook 66 is pivotally mounted adjacent to hook portion 42 and extends to an end portion of the hook, as shown in FIG. 5. Such safety hook is required by regulations for use with all hooks, cranes, and with trucks with lifting devices. The safety hook is spring-loaded and opens to admit a chain or other elongated carrying member, while resisting or preventing exit of the elongated load-carrying member, whereby load disengagement is prevented.

[0023] It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the preferred embodiments discussed above without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is established by the following claims and equivalents thereof. 

The inventor claims:
 1. In a lifting hook assembly for a backhoe bucket apparatus having a link pin pivotally mounting a bucket, the combination comprising: a hook device adapted to support loads for movement by the lifting hook assembly, said hook device having an upper portion adapted to be rotatably disposed about said link pin, with said upper portion being in direct engagement with the link pin, whereby loads applied to the hook device are borne directly by the pivot pin.
 2. A lifting hook assembly according to claim 1 wherein said upper portion defines a loop to fit about said link pins, said link pin is disposed between spaced-apart bucket assembly members, and two tubular spacers are disposed one on each side of said hook device upper portion to position the hook device and to space apart said bucket assembly members.
 3. A lifting hook assembly according to claim 2, wherein said bucket assembly members are spaced-apart hydraulic actuator arms.
 4. A lifting hook assembly according to claim 2, wherein the spaced-apart bucket assembly members are spaced-apart components of the backhoe bucket.
 5. A lifting hook assembly according to claim
 1. wherein: said hook device is of enlarged size and adapted to support relatively large-sized flexible elongated support members for engagement with substantial loads to be moved.
 6. An assembly combination according to claim 1, wherein: the flexible elongated member comprises (a) a chain, (b) a strap, (c) a nylon sling.
 7. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein: said relatively large flexible elongated support member comprises (a) a chain, (b) a strap, (c) a nylon sling.
 8. A lifting hook assembly according to claim 1, and further including: a closure member pivotally mounted on the upper hook device portion and extending across an opening between the upper hook device portion and an end portion of the hook device lower portion for entry of said elongated flexible support member and for prevention of disengagement thereof from the hook device.
 9. A lifting hook assembly according to claim 2, and further including: a closure member pivotally mounted on the upper hook device portion and extending across an opening between the upper hook device portion and an end portion of the hook device lower portion for entry of said elongated flexible support member and for prevention of disengagement thereof from the hook device.
 10. A lifting hook assembly according to claim 4, and further including: a closure member pivotally mounted on the upper hook device portion and extending across an opening between the upper hook device portion and an end portion of the hook device lower portion for entry of said elongated flexible support member and for prevention of disengagement thereof from the hook device.
 11. A lifting hook assembly according to claim 5, and further including: a closure member pivotally mounted on the upper hook device portion and extending across an opening between the upper hook device portion and an end portion of the hook device lower portion for entry of said elongated flexible support member and for prevention of disengagement thereof from the hook device.
 12. A lifting hook assembly for a backhoe bucket apparatus having a link pin pivotally mounting a bucket, with a combination comprising: a hook device adapted to support loads for movement by the lifting hook assembly, said hook device having an upper portion defining a loop to fit about said link pin with the upper portion in direct engagement with the link pin, said pivot pin being mounted between spaced-apart bucket actuator arms, and two tubular spacers disposed on said link pin, with one spacer on each side of said hook device upper portion to position the hook device and to space apart said bucket assembly arms.
 13. A lifting hook assembly according to claim 12, wherein: said pivot pin is also mounted between spaced-apart components of the bucket assembly.
 14. A lifting hook assembly combination of claim 12, wherein: said hook device is of enlarged size and adapted to support relatively large-sized flexible elongated support members for engagement with substantial loads to be moved.
 15. A lifting hook assembly according to claim 5, wherein: the flexibly elongated member comprises (a) a chain, (b) a strap, (c) a nylon sling.
 16. An assembly according to claim 12, and further including: a closure member pivotally mounted on the upper hook device portion and extending across an opening between the upper hook device portion and an end portion of the hook device lower portion for entry of said elongated flexible support member and for prevention of disengagement thereof from the hook device.
 17. A lifting hook assembly according to claim 10, and further including: a closure member pivotally mounted on the upper hook device portion and extending across an opening between the upper hook device portion and an end portion of the hook device lower portion for entry of said elongated flexible support member and for prevention of disengagement thereof from the hook device.
 18. A lifting hook assembly according to claim 12, and further including: a closure member pivotally mounted on the upper hook device portion and extending across an opening between the upper device portion and an end portion of the hook device lower portion for entry of said elongated flexible support member and for prevention of disengagement thereof from the hook device. 